Surface With Windows RT: A Winner Despite Apps

Microsoft's Surface tablet with Windows RT is the first worthwhile post-PC device in our post-PC world. What it lacks in apps is compensated for by a near-desktop-class browser.

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The Surface RT's biggest weakness is a dearth of apps. Although Windows RT is part of the Windows 8 family, it essentially lives in its own world. It cannot run desktop software written for Windows 7, nor can it run apps written for Windows Phone 7, 7.5, or 8. It can only install and run apps available from the Microsoft Store written for what was formerly known as Metro Style. And even some of these apps have major shortcomings. The Evernote app, for example, cannot display its own notebooks--all notes are shown in a single notebook. Also, unfortunately, the Store shows apps in every supported language. This leads to enormous visual clutter--unless, of course, you're interested in buying apps in multiple languages.

Among 688 respondents, 46% have deployed mobile apps, with an additional 24% planning to in the next year. Soon all apps will look like mobile apps – and it's past time for those with no plans to get cracking.